Reactive current transformer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for utilizing reactive power in electric power generating facilities. The primary energy source is a reactive power provided by a source of high-frequency, high-voltage electromagnetic oscillations. As a device, the Reactive Current Transformer consists of a high-voltage, high-frequency electromagnetic generator, preferably Tesla Resonant Transformer and of inductive receiving coils, electromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagnetic core, adjusted in resonance with this electromagnetic generator and mounted in any required quantity, close to it. Energy, emitted by the electromagnetic generator, is being transferred to inductive coils. Reactive current induced in the inductive coils can be collected from them and converted to a standard AC voltage for further use by any convenient way, preferably with a help of additional inductive transforming windings, mounted together and electromagnetically coupled with these inductive coils.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/404,833 filed Oct. 12, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application No.61/511,606 filed Jul. 26, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an ecologically clean electric powergeneration, specifically to the methods and technology of utilizingreactive power component of electric energy and converting it into anactive power with an output alternating current (AC) of a givenfrequency and voltage magnitudes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most recent economy trend in terms of power generation is directedtowards renewable energy sources, saving the environment and capable ofinsuring a certain extent of energy independence for its consumers. Oneof the most significant, perspective and still unrealized sources is thereactive power. Technology of reactive power conversion into a usefulenergy that may be conveniently used by industrial and commercialfacilities hasn't existed until now. This new technology will let toutilize the reactive power as a primary energy source and to convert itinto a standard AC voltage for its farther use by different consumers.

Reactive power is considered to be an extremely negative phenomenon.Huge resources are being wasted to withstand the reactive power in powerlines today. Significant efforts are being made as well to control andcompensate the reactive power in power transmission and distributionsystems consist of generating facilities, nets and consumers.

The level of the reactive power problem could be illustrated on anexample of yesteryears three-phase devices. Up to three power stationswere being used to supply merely ten enterprises those days. A suddensurge of power, increased standard 380 V voltage to 450-600 Volts,forcing electric machines to exceed their ability, which causedoverloading of generating facilities on power stations and as a result,were disconnected from an overstrain or just were destroyed. It was anaction of mighty reactive power.

It appears the reactive power has the same nature, as an active electricpower, but arising from a resonance of inductance together with electriccapacitance in the power network system, and is always directed backfrom consumers to their power station generators i.e. contrary to aworking current from generators. It causes networks overheating and hugeadditional quantities of fuel wasting for its compensation.

Under the assumption of a great majority of engineers, reactive power isscooped from a magnetic field of the Earth and electric potential of itsatmosphere.

Nikola Tesla was possibly the first who utilized reactive power in itsuseful purposes. It rotated an electromotor of his famous electromobile, but principal schemes of this unit do not exist and we can onlymake assumptions

There is another example of a reactive power usage in practice. Dr.Vachaev (Russia) conducted his researches from 1960-70. He tested awater deep cleaning and treatment device with extraction of varioussubstances from water suspension. His device had an extremely simpledesign. 220 Volt was applied to the scheme as indicated in FIG. 1. Thecurrent travelled through additional resistance R 2 to transformer TR 5connected with a capacity C 4 (180-200 uF) and farther to a tubularsparking gap TD 3 immersed in a water. A tubular sparking gap wascovered by a coil being fed with a direct current (not shown on thescheme). A small fireball discharge appeared at arch ignition in thegap, and powerful electromagnetic oscillations with about 30 MHzfrequency occurred in the device. A strong reactive current arose in thetransformer-condenser contour. The resistance R 2 served for limitationof this reactive current. As the key SW 1 was switched on load LR 6, thegiven contour became a source of a current itself and simultaneouslymade a self-supporting system for a significant period of time. But thisdesign was limited in its constant generating ability by appliedtransformer with its iron core.

A Tesla air-core resonant type transformer invented by Nicola Teslaaround 1891, shown schematically in FIG. 2, is effective, reliable andcost effective generator of high-voltage and high-frequencyelectromagnetic oscillations, which can be successfully used forexciting the system with a reactive power.

A Tesla coil type transformer (Tesla transformer) consists of a drivinggenerator, a primary driving oscillating resonant circuit (primary coil)7 and a secondary exciting oscillating resonant circuit (secondary coil)8. The driving generator is intended for producing electric currentoscillations to make the emitting secondary coil 8 to emit theelectromagnetic radiation.

Typical Tesla transformer spark gap type driving generator comprises ahigh-voltage supplying transformer 9. The output of supplyingtransformer is rectified by a full wave bridge 10. Tesla transformerprimary coil 7, a spark gap 11 and a high-voltage capacitor 12 areconnected in series. The primary coil 7 is loosely electromagneticallycoupled with the secondary coil 8, in the absence of a ferromagneticcore through mutual inductance. A discharge needle 13 is connected tothe end of the secondary coil winding wire and is mounted on its top fora discharge corona creation purpose. Another end of the secondary coilwinding wire is grounded.

Tesla transformer can have a spark gap, a transistor or a vacuum tubedriving generator type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is utilizing a reactive power asthe primary energy with its conversion into an active power with anoutput alternating current (AC) of a given frequency and voltagemagnitudes for further use in common electric distribution grids and toprovide a design for a Reactive Current Transformer utilizing thisreactive power.

The basic principle underlying the transformer is the following. Asource of electromagnetic radiation (SEMR) emitting an excitingoscillations of power. In the preferred embodiment the SEMR is the Teslacoil type transformer. A receiving inductive coil is positioned close tothe SEMR; it receives a coil induced power in vicinity of said SEMR.This power induces an induced alternating current (AC) in this inductivecoil. The transformer has also a collector that is able to collect thecoil induced power from the receiving inductive coil and convert its owninduced AC into the output with the given frequency and voltagemagnitude. In the preferred embodiment the collector has inductivewindings mounted inside the receiving inductive coil andelectromagnetically coupled with it. The receiving inductive coils maybe grounded.

It is important to tune the inductive coil to be in resonance with anemitting coil of the SEMR. In one embodiment an additional feedback loopwith an automatic frequency control circuit is provided to keep them inresonance.

In the preferred embodiment the transformer further includes additionalinductive coils that surround the SEMR. The number of inductive coilsmust be sufficient to achieve the required magnitude of the systemoutput, since all coils contribute to the system output.

Another object of the present invention is a method for producing anelectrical current via inductively transforming a reactive power into anactive power with an output alternating current (AC) of a givenfrequency and voltage magnitudes. The method include emitting ofelectromagnetic (EM) radiation, positioning inductive coils close to thesource of EM radiation, tuning a resonance of said inductive coils andthe source of EM radiation to resonate at the same frequency, receivinga coil induced power by said inductive coils in vicinity of said sourceof EM radiation and producing an induced alternating current, which iscollected from said inductive coils and converted to the AC output withthe given frequency and voltage magnitudes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be bestunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a principle circuit chart of Dr. Vachev's device for waterdeep cleaning and treatment of a prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a typical Tesla coil type transformer schematic with aspark gap driving generator of a prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a Reactive Current Transformer principal scheme of thepresent invention with Tesla coil type transformer and four inductivereceiving coils, mounted together with transforming coils;

FIG. 4 shows a Reactive Current transformer mounting scheme of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows an automatic frequency control diagram for the drivinggenerator outputting AC frequency being tuned to a changing resonance inthe exciting oscillating resonant circuit.

FIG. 6 shows experimental results demonstrating discharge corona on thetop of the receiving coil (on the left). The receiving coil is placed invicinity of the Tesla coil type transformer, which also has dischargecorona (on the right).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

We have discovered a phenomenon. The phenomenon and design built on itsbasis consists in that: energy emitted by a source of electromagnetic(EM) radiation excites a power induction in inductive coils placed closeenough to this source of EM radiation, loosely electromagneticallycoupled and tuned to resonate at the same frequency with it. Thecapacity of energy, being induced in each inductive coil, depends onlyon a distance between this coil and the source of EM radiation, underthe constant AC voltage and frequency output magnitudes. The quantity ofinductive coils, being mounted around the source of EM radiation has noany influence on the effect of power induction in them and can be anypossible.

Energy transfer process is in a square-law dependence on this source ofEM radiation voltage output level and in a direct dependence on itsoutput frequency.

As far as inductive coils are inductances and the Earth performs as anatural electric capacitance, together they perform as oscillatorycontour regarding to a generator of electric current oscillations. Thedriving generator produces current oscillations to make the emittingoscillatory circuit to emit the EM radiation, which excites a powerinduction in the inductive coils electromagnetically loosely coupledwith this source of EM radiation. Reactive power arising in thisresonant system, consists of a driving generator and an oscillatorycontour, can not return to the generator in a full quantity because oflack of a strong electromagnetic coupling between this oscillatorycontour and the generator (coupling coefficient k≦0.48), instead,reactive power becomes available for its utilizing. Energy being inducedin the receiving inductive coils can be collected from them andconverted into an output alternating current of a given frequency andvoltage magnitudes for its further use.

As shown in FIG. 6 experimental results demonstrating discharge coronaon the top of the receiving coil (on the left). The receiving coil isplaced in vicinity of the Tesla coil type transformer, which also hasdischarge corona (on the right). That is a visible indicator of energy,being transferred to the receiving coil.

An apparatus utilizing reactive power component of electric energy,based on the above mentioned phenomenon, is named a Reactive CurrentTransformer (RCT). It consists of a source of high-frequency,high-voltage electromagnetic radiation (SEMR), preferably a Tesla coiltype Transformer (Tesla transformer) of FIG. 2, intended for excitingthe system with oscillating power, receiving inductive coils (receivingcoils), intended for receiving the induced energy and producing aninduced alternating current (AC), a collector intended for collecting ofcoil induced energy from these receiving coils and converting theinduced AC into the output with the given frequency and voltagemagnitudes.

For this purpose, the receiving coils should be looselyelectromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagnetic core withtheir SEMR, tuned to resonate at the same frequency with it, mountedclose to the SEMR in any required quantity (depending on a desirablecapacity of the RCT), taking necessary precautions against a possibilityof high-voltage breakdown from the SEMR loaded parts.

High-voltage and high-frequency AC being induced in these inductivereceiving coils, must be collected from them and then converted to astandard AC voltage with industrial frequency, as it is impossible forconsumers to use a high-voltage, high-frequency current (up to Millionvolts and Hertz pulses), being formed on the receiving coils.

Additional inductive transforming windings with a proper number of wireturns (transforming coils) mounted inside each receiving coil andelectromagnetically coupled with them, serve for this purpose.

The coil induced AC being collected from the receiving coils andadjusted to a standard AC voltage magnitude with the help oftransforming coils, can be then adjusted to a standard industrial ACfrequency magnitude by any method, as is known in the art.

One embodiment of the RCT of the present invention, indicatedschematically in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, comprises an Exciting, Receiving andTransforming parts.

The RCT Exciting part is a source of electromagnetic radiation (SEMR) ofany design and type but the preferred source is a Tesla transformer.

The SEMR consists of an emitting oscillating resonant circuit (EORC) anda driving generator producing electric current oscillations to make theEORC to emit the electromagnetic (EM) radiation.

Tesla transformer applied in the preferred embodiment, shownschematically in FIG. 3, has a spark gap type driving generator. Drivinggenerator can also be a transistor or a vacuum tube type.

In one embodiment a high-voltage supplying transformer 9 is powered bythe 60 Hz AC 220 V commercial mains 20A, with its output voltage of 1 kV

The RCT can have a power feeding circuit from the system output, back tothe driving generator input, to produce a feedback source of electricpower (FBS), intended for self feeding the RCT with power. The FBScircuit is not applied in the preferred embodiment.

In one embodiment the Tesla transformer primary driving inductor(primary coil) 7 is executed by 5 turns of copper tube (⅜ inch) reeledup on an isolating pipe (15 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall).

The primary coil 7 is loosely electromagnetically coupled in the absenceof a ferromagnetic core with the emitting oscillating resonant circuit(secondary coil) 8, through mutual inductance, the coupling coefficientis preferably k≦0.48.

The Tesla transformer emitting secondary coil 8 is executed by enamelinsulated copper wire (AWG 20, 1000 turns) reeled up on an isolatingpipe (7 inches in diameter and 40 inches tall).

A discharge needle 13 is connected to one end of the secondary coilwinding wire and is mounted on its top for a discharge corona creationpurpose. Another end of the secondary coil winding wire is grounded.

In another embodiment the secondary coil 8 is mounted inside the primarycoil 7 as is indicated schematically in FIG. 4

The primary and secondary circuits both are being tuned so they resonateat the same frequency (typically, between 25 kHz and 2 MHz). Theresistance of both windings should be as low as practical. The value ofthe mutual inductance is selected along with the values of the primarycapacitance and winding inductances to produce operability as is knownin the art.

The fully rectified current from the supplying transformer 9 charges ahigh-voltage capacitor 12 (100 uF in our experiments). When primarycapacitor is fully charged, the spark gap 11 commutates energy into theprimary coil 7. Tesla transformer's driver executes a currentoscillation and transfers energy of the capacitor into the secondarycircuit, consists of the distributed capacitance of the secondaryinductance in parallel with the electrostatic capacitance of thereceiving contour. As the primary coil 7 energy transfers to thesecondary coil 8, the secondary winding output voltage increases untilall of the available primary energy has been transferred to thesecondary coil 8 and the secondary coil 8 generates a high-voltage,high-frequency EM radiation.

The RCT Receiving part consists of receiving inductive coils (receivingcoils) 14 which have the same design and parameters as the Teslatransformer exciting secondary coil 8.

Receiving coils are loosely electromagnetically coupled in the absenceof a ferromagnetic core with an emitter of EM radiation—secondary coil 8of the Tesla transformer, inductive coupling coefficient k≦0.48.

Receiving coils are tuned to resonate at the same frequency with thesecondary coil of the Tesla transformer.

The RCT can be additionally supplied with an automatic frequency control(AFC) to automatically keep the Tesla transformer driving generatoroutputting AC frequency being tuned to a changing resonance in thesecondary coil as is indicated schematically in FIG. 5. The AFC circuitis not applied in the preferred embodiment.

For illustration of the working principles of the present invention itwill be regarded the RCT in the embodiment with four receiving coils, asis indicated schematically in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, though it could be asmany receiving coils, as required on practice and the quantity ofreceiving coils being used in a unit is determined by a desired capacityof the system only.

The receiving coils in the preferred embodiment are executed by enamelinsulated copper wire (AWG 20, 1000 turns) reeled up on an isolatingpipe (7 inches in diameter and 40 inches tall). A discharge needle 18 isconnected to one end of the receiving coils winding wire and is mountedon its top for a discharge corona creation purpose. Another end of thereceiving coils winding wire is grounded.

The Tesla transformer driving generator output capacity in our exampleis 1.5 kW, its output voltage is 200 kV, emitted current frequency is200 kHz, a distance between emitting secondary coil 8 of the Teslatransformer and the receiving coils 14 is 40 inches. Every receivingcoil receives about 0.3 kW of induced energy under these conditions.Together they produce about 1.2 kW of induced energy.

If the receiving coils are being placed farther, saying on a distance of10 feet from the emitting secondary coil of a working Tesla transformer,the coronas on their discharge needles 18 almost go out and capacity ofinduced energy in each receiving coil falls down to several Watts.

The RCT Transforming part consists of a collector of any kind, intendedfor collecting the coil induced energy from the receiving coils andconverting this energy into an AC with given voltage magnitude. It isconvenient on practice to use additional inductive windings, namedtransforming coils 15 for this purpose.

Transforming coils should be electromagnetically coupled with theirreceiving coils and mounted inside them, as is indicated schematicallyin FIG. 4. A proper number of wire turns in the transforming coilwinding provide a transformation of high-voltage, high-frequency AC,being collected from the receiving coils, to a standard voltagemagnitude.

This high-frequency AC obtained from the transforming coils can be thenadjusted to a standard industrial frequency 50/60 Hz AC voltage, for itsfurther utilizing in a common electric distribution grid. It isconvenient on practice to rectify collected high-frequency alternatingcurrent (AC) to a direct current (DC) with a help of diodes 17, switchedin series and balanced by capacitors 16. Then this DC should be invertedback to an AC with a given frequency magnitude, with a help of astandard inverter.

The suggested method of producing an electrical current via inductivelytransforming a reactive power into an active power with an outputalternating current of a given frequency and voltage magnitudes and itsembodiment comprising a combination of inductive receiving coils,mounted in any required quantity, together with transforming coils,close to a source of EM radiation, loosely electromagnetically coupledand adjusted in resonance with their SEMR is the subject of the presentinvention and the main point, which differs this new Reactive CurrentTransformer from the known Tesla transformer or any known method ofelectric power generation.

FIG. 6 shows the experimental results demonstrating the generation ofinduced electrical current in the inductive coil (left) placed invicinity of an emitting coil (right) of Tesla transformer.

While embodiment of the present invention has been described above, itshould be understood that it has been presented by way of example only,and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present inventionshould not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

The previous description of the preferred embodiment is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A Reactive Current Transformer (RCT) utilizing a reactive powercomponent of electric energy and converting it into an active power withan output alternating current (AC) of a given frequency and voltagemagnitude, comprising: a source of electromagnetic radiation (SEMR) foremitting an exciting oscillations of power; at least a first receivinginductive coil, positioned close to the SEMR; the inductive coilreceiving a coil induced power in vicinity of said SEMR and producing aninduced alternating current (AC); and a collector intended forcollecting the coil induced power from said receiving inductive coil andconverting a collector induced AC into the output AC with the givenfrequency and voltage magnitude.
 2. The RCT of claim 1, wherein the SEMRincluding an emitting oscillating resonant circuit (EORC) and a drivinggenerator producing an electric current oscillations to make the EORC toemit the electromagnetic (EM) radiation.
 3. The RCT of claim 2, whereinthe driving generator is a spark gap, transistor or vacuum tube type. 4.The RCT of claim 3, wherein at least the first receiving inductive coilis loosely electromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagneticcore with the EORC of the SEMR with a coupling coefficient k≦0.48. 5.The RCT of claim 4, wherein at least the first receiving inductive coilis tuned to resonate at the same frequency as the EORC of the SEMR. 6.The RCT of claim 5, further comprising additional receiving inductivecoils, as many as required to get a necessary capacity of the system,loosely electromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagneticcore and tuned to resonate at the same frequency with the EORC of theSEMR, performing the same function as the first receiving inductivecoil, all receiving inductive coils contributing to the RCT output. 7.The RCT of claim 6, wherein the receiving inductive coils are grounded.8. The RCT of claim 7, wherein SEMR is a Tesla coil type transformer(TT) comprising the driving generator, a driving oscillating resonantcircuit (DOC) and the EORC loosely electromagnetically coupled with theDOC in the absence of a ferromagnetic core.
 9. The RCT of claim 8,further comprising an automatic frequency control to automatically keepthe TT driving generator outputting AC frequency being tuned to achanging resonance in the TT EORC.
 10. The RCT of claim 1, wherein theSEMR driving generator is being fed by initial electric power from abattery or an outer electric net.
 11. The RCT of claim 10, furthercomprising a power feeding circuit from the system output, back to theSEMR input to produce a feedback source of electric power, intended forself-feeding the RCT with electric power.
 12. The RCT of claim 1,wherein the collector comprises an additional inductive winding, mountedinside each said receiving inductive coil and electromagneticallycoupled with it.
 13. A method for producing an electrical current, saidmethod comprising: inductively transforming a reactive power into anactive power with an output alternating current (AC) of a givenfrequency and voltage magnitudes.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe transforming is performed by loosely electromagnetically couplinginductive coils with a source of electromagnetic radiation (SEMR) in theabsence of a ferromagnetic core; positioning inductive coils close tosaid SEMR; tuning a resonance of said inductive coils and the SEMR toresonate at the same frequency; receiving a coil induced power by saidinductive coils in vicinity of said SEMR and producing an inducedalternating current, which is collected from said inductive coils andconverted to the AC output with the given frequency and voltagemagnitude.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein collecting is performedby an additional inductive winding, mounted inside each said receivinginductive coil and electromagnetically coupled with it.
 16. The methodof claim 14, wherein SEMR is a Tesla coil type transformer.
 17. Themethod of claim 14, wherein SEMR is fed by initial electric power from abattery or an outer electric net.
 18. The method of claim 14, whereinSEMR is additionally fed by RCT output power.
 19. The method of claim14, wherein the coupling coefficient k≦0.48.